As you know, winter is around the corner. The cold has already made itself known, especially in the higher areas, where snow and freezing temps often show up early.
If you’ve experienced winter, you know that it’s not just about keeping warm; it’s about preparation. This is particularly true if you’re a business owner because cold snaps, snowstorms, and frozen pipes will not do your bottom line any good.
Your roof, in particular, takes a beating during winter, which is why commercial roof maintenance should be at the top of your prep list. But that’s just one aspect.
Getting your place of business winter-ready means checking every system that keeps your business running smoothly. That’s pretty much essential, whether you run a business in Denver, New York, or Chicago.
So, let’s talk about the four key areas you need to focus on now, before the big dump of snow hits.
1. Inspect and Reinforce Your Roof
We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: your roof is usually the hardest hit during the winter months. Snows pile up, ice forms, and before long, that harmless-looking patch of frost you saw in October might turn into a costly leak by December.
The smartest move? Get professionals up there early. They’ll check for the obvious signs like loose shingles and flashing, damaged membranes, and clogged drainage systems. If repairs or reinforcements are needed, doing them now is far cheaper than dealing with what will likely be a bigger problem mid-winter.
This type of proactive maintenance can save you up to 30% of future maintenance costs, according to a recent study published on ResearchGate.
Integrity Pro Roofing notes that routine inspections and preventive work will easily extend the life of your roof and save you thousands in repair work down the road.
2. Protect Your Plumbing from Freezing
Your plumbing is another area you should not forget. Here’s the thing: when water freezes, it expands. And when it expands inside your pipes, well, you get the picture. This is probably the single most disruptive thing that can happen to a business property. It’s messy, expensive, and entirely preventable.
So, what does a burst pipe mean for your business? Repair costs range from $500 to $5,000 according to data from Home Advisor. You can imagine what a $5,000 deficit will do to your balance sheet.
Winterizing your plumbing is simple enough:
- Insulate any pipes in unheated areas like crawl spaces
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses
- Know where your main water shut-off valve is
If your business is housed in an older building, consider installing smart temperature sensors that’ll alert you if pipes get too cold.
3. Maintain Your Heating and HVAC Systems
In the thick of winter, your HVAC systems become your employees’ best friend, and possibly your most important business equipment. If it fails, your business stops dead. Nobody, not an employee, not a client or customer, wants to hang around a freezing office.
This is why HVAC maintenance before winter is a must. Get someone over to check and change the filters, clean the components, inspect the heat exchanger for cracks (this is a big carbon monoxide risk), and make sure that everything is in top shape.
On a different note, if you have people working in different parts of the building, consider zoning your system. This way, you only heat up the areas in use, reducing waste and your energy bills.
4. Seal, Insulate, and Weatherproof Your Building
It’s not enough to reinforce your roof and sort out your HVAC. How sure are you that your entire building is not a huge energy sieve? Draft near your windows or doors, for example, is money flying out into the cold. Your HVAC will work overtime, and your energy bills will skyrocket.
But if you spend a weekend weatherproofing your place of business, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of money down the line. In fact, the EPA estimates an average of 15% savings on heating and cooling costs after such a project.
So, take a walk around your office building with a critical eye. Feel for drafts and look for gaps. Use caulks, weatherstripping, and door sweeps to fix these leaks. If you need to get a professional over, do so.
Not only will this effort lower your operating costs, but it will also turn your office into a comfortable space where anyone would be happy to work.
Get Your Business Winter-Ready Today
Getting your business ready for the winter isn’t just about bracing for the cold. It’s about making sure that your business has what it takes to keep running after the temperature drops.
So, before the next cold front rolls in, take a weekend to check things. If it means getting a professional, by all means do so. When the snow starts falling in earnest, you want to be able to focus on your customers and not worry about what could go wrong next.
View the original article and our Inspiration here
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